Blunderbuss

[fernando]

Originally Posted by celtan

... What do you think, Fer, ¿portugués? ...

You almost made me a name ... Fertuguês ( Fertuguese) .
I don't know. When i came back home, the other day, i thaught i would locate something of the kind in my ( hoping to be) library but, instead, i only spotted a couple specimens with a much more moderate barrel. This one of yours has quite a trumpet one, half way to a grenade thrower ... pass the exageration .
Yeah, the stock looks British, but could also only be 'a la British', made anywhere else. Perhaps we could say the same about the lock ?.
Why couldn't this be a Belgium setup ... or even a Turkish cocktail, as sugested by Stu, what do i know?
French not likely ... again marks and smith name missing
Surprises might pop up when (if) you decide to dismount the barrel. Often you don't see any proof marks showing off, while smiths fancy punctioning their symbols underneath the barrel.
Hope you don't mind, i'm checking a couple sources, to hear their opinnion.
A sus ordenes.
Fernando

[celtan]

I saw a picture of one just like mine in a local National Parks Services Library's book, IDed as european. They wouldn't allow me photocopying the page, arguing potential copyright infringement issues. I explained to them it didn't apply for this case, but apparently they don't know the applying laws, and don't care to learn them either...

I have seen several spanish blunderbusses of identical design, but in iron. In fact, the stock design is identical to my flintlock fusil Modelo 1792. That's the reason I suspect it's either Belgian or French. Although the four chambered shield atop the barrel is very similar to that of Spain, with a Crown sitting on top...

[celtan]

Actually, I envy you the availability of Fer as your potential nom-de-guerre.

In pre-roman Galicia, Fer meant Fire. In post-Roman Galicia, it meant Iron. That's the base for the Her-nandez/ Fer-nandez last name. Just as the Her-rrero / Ferrero (The [H] was pronounced lat. [F]/eng. [PH]). In pre-roman Galicia, Iron wss Ir/Er, the basis for Iron and Ehre...

So Fer-nando would mean Fire / Iron something or other...

Have to Love phylology....

: )

Originally Posted by fernando

You almost made me a name ... Fertuguês ( Fertuguese) .
I don't know. When i came back home, the other day, i thaught i would locate something of the kind in my ( hoping to be) library but, instead, i only spotted a couple specimens with a much more moderate barrel. This one of yours has quite a trumpet one, half way to a grenade thrower ... pass the exageration .
Yeah, the stock looks British, but could also only be 'a la British', made anywhere else. Perhaps we could say the same about the lock ?.
Why couldn't this be a Belgium setup ... or even a Turkish cocktail, as sugested by Stu, what do i know?
French not likely ... again marks and smith name missing
Surprises might pop up when (if) you decide to dismount the barrel. Often you don't see any proof marks showing off, while smiths fancy punctioning their symbols underneath the barrel.
Hope you don't mind, i'm checking a couple sources, to hear their opinnion.
A sus ordenes.
Fernando

[Atlantia]

There might be identifiable marks on the underside of that barrel Manuel ;-)

[fernando]

Originally Posted by celtan

Actually, I envy you the availability of Fer as your potential nom-de-guerre.

In pre-roman Galicia, Fer meant Fire. In post-Roman Galicia, it meant Iron. That's the base for the Her-nandez/ Fer-nandez last name. Just as the Her-rrero / Ferrero (The [H] was pronounced lat. [F]/eng. [PH]). In pre-roman Galicia, Iron wss Ir/Er, the basis for Iron and Ehre...

So Fer-nando would mean Fire / Iron something or other...

Have to Love phylology....

: )

Phylo what? I want to be one, too
Yeah, we actually write and say Ferro and Ferreiro over here .
But i don't know why, when you call me Fer, i thaught you wanted to sound English

Fernando

[celtan]

Oh No! That version would be "Ferd", and I'm sorry to say, it would sound nerdish, and Ferdie would be even worse.Don't take my word for it, just ask some of the local posters who hight from the misty isles...


Now that I think about it, that's how the galegos refer to Britain, or was it Ireland?. Misty isles. Is it the same everywhere else?

Fer, OTOH, sounds kinda cool. A suitable name even for "World of Warcraft".

: )

Myself, I hate to be called Manny. Too culturally hybrid.

Toots!

Manuel / Manolo

Originally Posted by fernando

Phylo what? I want to be one, too
Yeah, we actually write and say Ferro and Ferreiro over here .
But i don't know why, when you call me Fer, i thaught you wanted to sound English

Fernando

[celtan]

Similar blunderbusses found on the net

[celtan]

As mine was originally found, the other side was utterly covered with a thick mushy whitish fungi coat...quite fetching!

[M ELEY]

Saw this piece awhile back and wanted to comment...

I was thinking along the same track as Gene/Atlantia here. A blunderbuss in the British fashion with decorative markings resembling that seen on E. Indian weapons. Let's consider just a few points...

Blunderbuss in most countries were MOSTLY used for guarding stage coaches, as "wall guns" on forts (usually mounted as swivel) or as boarding pieces on ships.

The brass pieces very typically (but not always, of course) were used as maritime arms because they retarded the rust effects of the sea air.

It does appear of the British pattern and the Brits certainly were in India at the time.

Although the designs could be from a number of ethnographic locations, with the evidence above, India should definitely be considered (and likewise, I don't believe these designs look European in the least).

There are no markings for the EIC/East India Company, because this could possibly be a "private purchase" boarding/defence gun. Keep in mind that far more ships that carried boarding axes, cutlass, pikes, etc, were either privateer vessels or merchant-type vessels with weapons for defence against boarding than there were naval/government-marked pieces.

That being said, without some provenance, marking, ship name, owner name or rack number (sometimes found on maritime pieces), this is all just speculation, but a possibility. I have seen some impressive boarding axes from India of the early 19th century which mimic nicely both the British axe and French 'hache de bord' pattern of 1830. Most are completely unmarked, but some have floral designs of a similar pattern to the one on this piece. (One particular example was an impressive combination weapon of flintlock/boarding axe).

Very nice piece!

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by celtan

Actually, I envy you the availability of Fer as your potential nom-de-guerre.

In pre-roman Galicia, Fer meant Fire. In post-Roman Galicia, it meant Iron. That's the base for the Her-nandez/ Fer-nandez last name. Just as the Her-rrero / Ferrero (The [H] was pronounced lat. [F]/eng. [PH]). In pre-roman Galicia, Iron wss Ir/Er, the basis for Iron and Ehre...

So Fer-nando would mean Fire / Iron something or other...

Have to Love phylology....

: )

Well, if there was a phrase that ever described Fernando...it would be fire+iron.......not blacksmith, but hot metal.....for the outstanding weapons he has collected, keeps finding, and shares openly here!!!

I have learned more from him on the importance of the Portuguese in history in the time I've known him than in all the years I've studied weapons!

Thanks Fernando,
All the best,
Jim

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Well, if there was a phrase that ever described Fernando...it would be fire+iron.......not blacksmith, but hot metal.....for the outstanding weapons he has collected, keeps finding, and shares openly here!!!

I have learned more from him on the importance of the Portuguese in history in the time I've known him than in all the years I've studied weapons!

Thanks Fernando,
All the best,
Jim

Whhhhhat ?

Don't pay any notice to what Jim is saying, people